Shoving my legs into my street clothes, I shoved back into the club. If Nia was part of the Petters, then I needed to talk to her. See if I could get on her good side. I could take them down from the inside out.A smile pulled at my mouth even as an odd sense of joy exploded through my chest. Her face shone in my mind's eye. Then another picture of her on the roof outside the Petters stronghold chased it away. My brow furrowed as I came to a halt. What the hell was she doing casing her own place? Ivan. I needed to talk to Ivan. Scanning the dining area, I didn't see him. Shit. I walked up to the bar. Remembering what had happened to me the last time, I tempered my tone. "Mishka, I need some help, please. Have you seen Ivan?"The huge man turned from the far end of the bar and came down to me. A smile on his face. "You learn quickly. I wasn't too sure when Ivan called you a stupid idiot." He wiped at a spot on the bar with a towel before he flicked it over his shoulder.
I couldn't believe it. It was almost too good to be true. And considering what I'd just talked about with Whitney, I had to tread carefully. Very carefully. "Will Raphael die if he doesn't complete his mission?""Yes. By my hand."Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Raphael flinch as the words came over the line. Whatever he'd done, it had been horrible. What kind of horror must it have been to get kicked out of a family like the Amatuccis? "Why?"His dusky skin paled. He shook his head, backed away from the phone as if it would strike out at him. "He put his family in danger. He came this close to killing me, my daughter, and two of my sisters-in-law."Agonized horror rose up on Raphael's face. A certain kind of resolution and penance marred his features. Whatever he'd done, had marked him, as well as his family. "Raphael, do you deserve to die by Eden's hand if you fail in your mission?" I asked him. He looked at me. He had the same look in his eyes as he had do
Smooshed into the backseat, I sat in silence while Ivan and Nia spoke in quiet tones. "Why no tell me you Petter?" Ivan asked. Nia shrugged. "I figured you knew. It's not exactly a secret around here."Ivan shifted to look at her for a long moment. "I thought you prostitute who works Petter. Not Petter."Nia's shoulders bumped into the air again. "Not my fault you don't listen to the club gossip. I've been with the Petters since I was six."Questions burned in the back of my throat, buzzed around my brain. I willed Ivan to ask them. Figured they'd get answered that way. I doubted Nia would answer any of my questions at all. "Slave?" Ivan asked. Nia's chin dropped in a short nod. "According to my mother, my father is a Petter. I'm searching for him." Something in her tone had me squinting at the back of her head. Her kinky black curls were a riot of midnight in the low lights of the dash. I wanted to reach out and squeeze them in my fingers. See if they were as resi
The emotion in the car was stifling. Overwhelming. I felt like I couldn't breathe. Which was stupid. So freaking stupid. So what if the brothers were having some kind of emotional reunion. Didn't matter to me. As long as the Petters went down, they could fuck each other on the car hood for all I cared. Raphael shook his head. "You think I'm dead."The driver shook his head. "I know my wife. Know her moods and when she's being sneaky. I've known about you for the last handful of weeks."Raphael shook his head again. His hands clenched into fists as he looked out the window. Tension vibrated off the man in seismic waves. If I didn't know any better, I'd assume he was trying to rebuild his walls. To shove himself back into some kind of shell. Become someone he thought he should be so his brother would love him. Reaching out, I shook my arm. Allowed one of my knives to fall out of its forearm holster and into my palm. I dug the tip of the knife into Raphael's thigh. Felt the s
Fuming, I stomped into the kitchen. Bracing my fists on the kitchen island, I breathed through the rage that swamped me. He thought he could just show up and take over. Take charge like he always did. Shove me to the side. Poor little Rafey can't figure out how to get out of a wet paper bag, he can't possibly run point on taking down our biggest enemies. Her scent caught me first. I looked up, turned, tried to wipe my expression clean. Seeing her in good lighting for the first time, I studied her. Even after a long night, she looked beautiful. The tip of her nose pointed up the slightest degree. Gave her a slightly impish look. But the expression in her aquamarine eyes killed any notion of flights of fancy. "Have any coffee?" she asked. That hadn't been what I expected her to say at all. I blew out a thankful breath. Shrugged. "I have no idea. But I'll check for you. Go take a seat." I pointed to the small four-seater dining table and chairs. She smiled. Nodded. "I'll do
I watched him go. He'd somehow managed to twist and turn everything I'd said around to suit his negative narcissism. He was skilled at that part of psychopathy, that was for damn sure. He might have gotten the last word this time, but I was determined to show him that he wasn't an evil person. Massimo was waiting outside the door. His face was thunderous as he allowed his brother to pass him. When he turned back to me, his eyes were cold and held my death. "Never again. Do you understand me?"I looked at the man. Let his threat roll off me like water off a duck's back. "Do you know that he plans to allow the Petters to kill him?"Massimo jolted slightly. "I won't let that happen."I snorted. "Yeah, and you and your wife seem to be doing a real bang up job making him face his demons."Massimo's hands clenched into fists. "What do you know of his demons? You barely know him."As if time was the only thing that allowed a deeper knowing of someone else. Sure, time was importan
I stood outside her door. My heart pounding in my chest, my belly twisted in knots. She hadn't touched me, had, in fact, kicked me from her room. And I was close to being more turned on than any other time in recent memory. Taking the few steps that would lead me back to my room, I opened the door, went in. Closing the door behind me, I looked at my bed. Felt my dick twitch at the idea of sitting on it naked because she told me to. And then having a discussion about sex. Hopefully, lots of sex. Lots and lots and lots of sex. I blew out a breath. Laughed at myself softly. She was right, we needed to get through this meeting with Mas and Ivan before we let the good times roll. Stubbornly, I refused to think about anything beyond tonight. No future plans for those on the chopping block. I could give her tonight. Give her all of my nights until we took the Petters down. Shoving away from the door, I walked deeper into my room. The closet was full of simple clothes in my style.
Inside, I was shaking. I hadn't felt him move. Hadn't felt the air shift. Nothing. One second my life was flashing before my eyes. The next, I'm on the floor and Raphael is threatening to kill himself to keep me alive. No one had ever offered to die for me. Most had barely noticed me enough to think about me twice. That this broken man had blurred into motion in defense of me? I was floored. And humbled. And pissed off. And turned on. I was going to beat him purple. Then fuck him until we both passed out. As soon as we got out of this infernal meeting and did our interview, he was going to be mine. Ivan got back to his feet. Swayed as he found his chair. He looked at Raphael, a look of pride on his face. "Nice shot. Good moves. Do it again, I kill you." Raphael burst into laughter. It had a crazy tinge to it that didn't bode well, but he sucked it all back in. Locked it down. I wiggled my ass against his dick. It wasn't a lot, but it was enough of a reward if the twitchi